Bills fans await payouts, gear from Smile Mail, inc.

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - WIVB News 4 is hearing from numerous Bills fans who say they entered a raffle with a local non-profit last year and still haven't received their winnings. Now those fans are calling 4 action.

These complaints have to do with Smile Mail Incorporated. That's a local non-profit that promised not only cash payouts, but also autographed merchandise such as a Josh Allen jersey.

Call 4 Action is hearing from Bills fans about their experiences with Smile Mail, Inc. -- experiences that went from promising to frustrating.

Smile Mail emerged hosting online raffles for Bills fans. They used to be located inside the Eastern Hills Mall, before the mall made the switch to a town center, forcing vendors to vacate. Smile Mail was also involved in collecting get well cards for Damar Hamlin.

"I did find it to be a legitimate business, I thought that Smile Mail was a great organization that served a great purpose," said local Bills fan Monica Duffy.

All of a sudden, the payouts stopped and merchandise wasn't being mailed out.

"Then it was in January 2024 that it kind of was like, okay, the Bills season is over, so am I going to get paid or not?" said Sara Snyder, another Bills fan. "That's when we all kind of started finding each other, finding out that Smile Mail owed more than just us and it was a lot bigger than just one person."

Ryan Alsop is the founder of Smile Mail, inc. WIVB News 4 interviewed Alsop last year ahead of an event giving back to the community.

"We started it, we had the idea after we realized all the tragic events over the last couple years in Buffalo and we decided that we need some kindness in Buffalo again," Alsop said.

Call 4 Action was able to get in contact with Alsop. He tells us his organization ran into financial issues and lost donors. He says he needs to pay out about $2,000 in winnings and that a couple fans are still owed merchandise. Alsop promises to pay fans back starting next week.

Duffy says she's due merchandise that she purchased from their company.

"I was really looking forward to those items, I was going to display them and have them in my home and was really disappointed that nothing came to fruition from those purchases," she said.

We'll let you know if that actually happens. If you have a Call 4 Action complaint you can call our hotline at 716-879-4900.